INTERACTIVE TOOLKIT FOR
CROP WILD RELATIVE CONSERVATION PLANNING version 1.0

2. Establish genetic baseline information. An understanding of the pattern of allelic richness and evenness across the geographic breadth of the species establishes a relative baseline against which change can be measured. Just as population ecologists measure demographic changes in population number, so population geneticists measure changes in allelic richness and evenness over time. Like demographic changes in population number, changes in allelic richness and evenness over time can occur naturally. By monitoring genetic change, natural changes can be distinguished from those associated with adverse population management that result in genetic erosion genetic erosion  [1] and would ultimately lead to population extinction. Establishing the genetic baseline and assessing genetic diversity regularly over time assessing genetic diversity regularly over time  [6] enables these deleterious changes to be detected early and population management changes to be implemented before there is significant genetic erosion.

3. Target CWR populations for conservation. The selection of priority populations for in situ and ex situ conservation based on genetic criteria has been debated for a long time (e.g. Marshall and Brown 1975, Lynch 1996, Petit et al. 1998, Delgado et al. 2008). The amount and patterns of genetic diversity both within and among populations of a species, genetic population structure, and common and localized alleles  [7] are some of the data that can be useful when prioritizing populations for conservation. For instance, if a particular CWR is genetically homogenous or if the partitioning of genetic diversity is considerably higher within, rather than among, populations, then a limited number or even a single genetic reserve may be enough to efficiently conserve the species (for example, the population with higher genetic diversity and with the highest number of common and localized alleles). However, if different populations of the same CWR are genetically distinct, or if the partitioning of genetic diversity among populations is high—indicating significant differentiation among populations—multiple genetic reserves would probably be needed to ensure that all genetic diversity within that particular CWR is conserved. It is also important to take into account that, even in cases where there is only a small fraction of genetic differentiation among populations, this diversity can be very important as it may contain adaptive traits which are critical for the species’ ability to inhabit different environmental conditions. This is particularly important when considering the conservation of populations in the margins of a species’ range, due to the need for species to adapt to changing environmental conditions brought about by climate change.

4. Identify traits of interest for crop improvement. CWR adaptive traits form the functional component of genetic variation relevant for crop improvement. Ultimately, the identification and utilization of these traits justifies the conservation of CWR.